Demolition begins on Byron buildings damaged in October fire

Businesses in the 100 block of Saginaw Street in Byron were damaged in a fire that occurred Oct. 2012 and demolition of the buildings began Friday, March 1.
Lauren Justice | MLive.com

BYRON, MI -- Demolition on several buildings damaged during an October 2012 fire in Byron began on Friday, March 1, but village residents expressed concern about the effects of the demolished buildings on the downtown area.

In early October 2012, five buildings in the 100 block of Saginaw Street in Byron were damaged during an early morning fire. Afterwards, Shiawassee County Sheriff officials said that the incident was being investigated as an arson.

On Sunday, March 3, the sidewalk in front of the damaged buildings was blocked off. Several orange traffic barrels were also placed in front of an newly made empty lot in the middle of the block -- two buildings were demolished on Friday.

Byron resident Laura Musall manages a Fairway Discount Store, 123 S. Saginaw St., located across the street from the block of buildings destroyed during the fire. Since then, Musall said that the store has experienced difficulties.

"We've lost a lot of business due to the salon being down and Janelle's not being there anymore," Musall said. "People used to come in here to shop before appointments or going to eat (and) now that (the businesses are) gone, it's gone down a little."

Businesses in the 100 block of Saginaw Street in Byron were damaged in a fire that occurred Oct. 2012 and demolition of the buildings began Friday, March 1.
Lauren Justice | MLive.com

Other Byron residents had similar questions over the demolition's economic effects.

According to Byron resident Kirk Maylum, 21, the block of buildings destroyed in the fire housed many of the village's major downtown draws. While Maylum said that the costs of rebuilding a new business in the same location would likely be expensive, he wished that someone would be willing to do so quickly.

"I just hope that somebody'll move something in there to keep us going," Maylum said.

Businesses in the 100 block of Saginaw Street in Byron were damaged in a fire that occurred Oct. 2012 and demolition of the buildings began Friday, March 1.
Lauren Justice | MLive.com